Good DAY!
A quarterly publication of the National Grange Vol. 5, Issue 3 l Winter 2021-22
Winners all around The 155th Annual National Grange Convention in Wichita, Kansas, put the best of the organization on display, from civil debates to talents of members and friends of the Order
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opportunity for our members to tell people that WHHA is a tenant in the National Grange Headquarters, just a block from the White House. Then we added a few finishing touches that tied the tree back to our county most specifically the farm on which it was grown. We put a few wooden photo frame ornaments on the tree with photos of the three-generations farm family tending to, and standing with pride with their product. Off to the side, we added an 18”x22” sign (pictured to the right) with information about the tree and our Grange along with a box of Jefferson Grange brochures and flyers about our upcoming “Free Photos with Santa” event. The sign includes the “Raised Right Here” logotype and an outline of our county - a very recognizable shape for many in “the Skook” as we affectionately call it. It also includes text that unmistakably conveys: “If you are proud to be from this place, we are the group for you to affiliate with.” But if you’re a transplant, just trying to figure out where you fit in our rural corner of the world, what then? We believe our efforts to elevate the pride of place we have in our area also says, “We’re the group that can help you establish your own roots here and appreciate all that this place has to offer.” Having moved to several communities in my life where I had only academic or professional connections, I was longing for that group or individual who rooted me in a way to my new area and made me feel like I was experiencing the best of the place. A Grange that finds a way to excite the die-hards, the lifers and the generationally connected while inviting the newcomers, transplants and transients to the same table will provide a remarkable service for their hometown. By connecting the individuals without established roots to your community, you will increase investment by individuals who may come with big-city salaries or big-time connections that can raise quality of life in your area in a variety of ways. You’ll also help erase the label “outsider” and be able to squash tension before it begins. Finally, your pride may be
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contagious, too. You may help someone, like a fifth generation farm kid or a collegebound business-minded kid, make the choice to stay or come home after school to invest in your community as well. Future-casting is important - a look at where you want to be and how to get there. That means understanding the outcomes you are seeking and relentlessly walking or creating paths to get there. Next year, we’ll take part in the tree event again. We’ll have an evergreen from a different farm (there are lots of them in our area and it’s important to spread the love). We’ll have a different theme, but the message will remain: things that are
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raised here are raised right, and from that, greatness grows. I believe every Grange member can relate. There is something great about the community or area you serve, something that calls you to its service and the service of your neighbors also invested in that place. I can’t wait to see how you use this theme to tell the story of your community and the Grange. Make sure to share that story with us - how you are instilling in both the lifelong and new residents of your area a sense of pride and what makes your hometown special to you. Send your story to communications@nationalgrange.org.
New Communications Director aboard as of Jan. 1 By Lindsay Schroeder
asset in connecting Granges at all levels
Senior Communications Fellow
and is an exciting addition to the National Grange staff.”
Philip J. Vonada of Pennsylvania has
Vonada
been hired as Communications Director
County and Eagle Grange #1 in Lycoming
assumes the role left open by Amanda
County. He serves as the Director of the
Brozana Rios, who was appointed in as
National
Williamsport,
of Penns Valley Grange #158 in Centre
Vonada has big shoes to fill as he
2021
in
Pennsylvania, where he is a member
of the National Grange.
February
resides
Pennsylvania State Junior Grange, and
Grange
was previously a Communications Fellow
Membership and Leadership Director.
in 2019 and Trimble Legislative Youth
“I am looking forward to the challenges
Delegate in 2018.
and opportunities this new role provides.”
“The
communications
department
says Vonada. “As somebody who has
is multifaceted and fast-paced. I think
grown up in the Grange, I am excited
having a fresh perspective will provide
to be able to continue growing the
our members and our organization as a
Grange by increasing our outreach and
whole with a renewed energy, and Phil
communication, both within our Granges and out to the public at large. Over the past several years, Amanda has set up a strong Communications department, and I am grateful for her leadership and our ability to continue to work alongside each
to grow as an organization, he said.
has a deep Grange background that will
A major goal for Philip in his new
help him hit the ground running. I’m really
position is to connect with Granges who
excited to see where Phil will take us,”
may not feel tightly connected to the
said Brozana Rios. Vonada is the General Manager
National Grange. improved
of the Community Theatre League in
other as she completes the transition into
resources members can use to enrich
Williamsport until the end of this year,
her new role.”
their local communities and see a value in
when he will officially assume his new role.
Vonada’s first major project in his new
He
hopes
to
provide
being part of the Grange as a whole.
He holds a bachelor’s in Speech
role was to be the primary lead on the
“Philip brings a positive attitude, a
Communication Fellows program at the
strong work ethic, and a broad background
Millersville University of Pennsylvania and
155th Annual Convention.
in the Grange and public relations to this
a Master of Arts from Villanova University.
He is eager to expand his abilities and
position,” said National Grange President
In his spare time, Vonada enjoys theater,
provide essential services for the Grange
Betsy Huber. “He is going to be a strong
baking, cooking, working out and reading.
Communication
and
Theatre
from
Let’s hear your story
Indeed, being a Grange member is one of the most rewarding experiences. For many, the story of how they came to join the Grange does not capture the essence of how they came to be a Granger and what that means in their lives. We want to hear from you! What is your #Grangestory that tells how you became a Granger? Did you see application of degree lessons to your daily life and relate them to friends and coworkers? Did you find yourself embracing new ideas and finding ways to overcome differences? Submit your story of no more than 650 words and a photo, if applicable, to Philip at pvonada@nationalgrange.org by February 1 for potential inclusion in a future issue of Good Day! or use on our social media.
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Photo by Lindsay Schroeder
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PERSPECTIVE
‘Warm Welcome’ 155th Annual Convention
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BEST IN SHOW
Junior imagines being National Grange President for a day I would also make the opportunity
By Annette Hartley
to schedule Zoom meetings with Junior
National Junior Granger of the Year
and Youth directors from all the States to discuss how we can recruit new members
The hour of labor has arrived and
and keep the ones we have.
the work of another day demands my
After that meeting, I would meet with
attention...
the membership directors from all States
If I was National President for the day,
to see where we can incorporate ideas
where do I even begin?
from the Juniors and Youth to come up
I should start planning since I really
with a plan to build up our membership
want to be the National Grange President
so our great organization could flourish
in my future!
and continue for generations to come.
It is going to be hard to narrow it
With the assistance of the National
down since I would only have one day to
Legislative Director, I would like to host
be the President, but I think I could do it.
a luncheon with our legislative contacts
I would definitely need help with the
from Capitol Hill to discuss the important
things I want to do, as I know I couldn’t
issues to the Grange and our members
do it by myself, so I would ask for the
nationwide. With open communication
guidance from national directors and
and continued discussions, we can keep
office staff.
the Grange’s important matters on their
One of the first things that I Would
agenda and moving forward to achieve
do is retake a picture of me sitting in the
our goals.
National President Betsy Huber’s chair, in
After my luncheon, when I get back
her office, in Washington, D.C. One thing that I would really want to do and focus on is membership as I am on the northeast regional membership committee. I would like to get people’s input on why they would and wouldn’t like to join the Grange. I would see if it
Submitted Photo Nettie Hartley, who was named Junior of the Year in 2021, had her photo taken with National President Betsy Huber when visiting the National Headquarters in 2018.
is something we could fix and work on.
to my office, I’d like to meet with the building manager to get a full tour of the building and an update as to the needed repairs and priority levels. On my tour, I would also like to meet the tenants to hear what their thoughts are on the status of the building. My final meeting of my day would be
Our Junior Granges in particular are having a hard time with the number
Since I would only have one day, I
with the National Executive Committee
of members. When we had our last
would make a Zoom meeting to reach
to discuss my day’s events and to share
membership meeting for the northeast
out to the State Presidents just to remind
the concerns voiced throughout my day.
membership committee in March, there
them that I would always be there for
Together we could come up with a
were 50,479 (fraternal) Grange members
them if they needed me.
plan to boost and retain our membership great
at all levels of the Grange, hear updates
Juniors. That would equal about 1,010
communication line with all the States
from our State Presidents, review our
Junior Grangers out of all the States.
in case something is happening in their
legislative agenda and to go over the
As a Junior Grange and current
State Grange, they would like me to step
building status and options.
President of my Junior Grange, I would
in to help where I can. I think that it could
Once the labors of the day are
love to see those number get bigger.
in general and only 2% of those are
It’s
important
to
have
help a lot of the States out, in case they
complete, I would end my night with a
I would also like to see so many more
need advice with finances, membership
guided night tour of our nation’s capital
Juniors that we would have to organize
and any other things that they might
and dinner with the entire national office
brand new Granges.
need assistance with.
staff.
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Submitted Photo
Reading ourselves: Rural experiences in Young Adult literature By Chea Parton
However, in school I came to understand
Literacy In Place Founder
Standard
Academic
English
as
the
only kind that would allow me to be I am a farm girl and the legacy of proud working-class people from rural Indiana and East Tennessee. Growing up, we never had cable TV - only had what we affectionately
successful, so I got good at it. Because I believed I needed it to be successful, to go to college, and to get out of that onestoplight town. Because, as far as I knew, that was the only way to be somebody. So, I did leave. I ended up attending
called the “Farmer Five”. One of those channels was PBS and we existed on a
an
steady diet of Wishbone and Austin City
getting my teacher’s license. Then, I
Limits (ACL). Together they fostered in
taught high school English in a rural
me a deep love and respect for stories
Indiana school, eventually left to earn my
of all kinds and country folk intellectuals
master’s degree, and then moved out of
- which describes pert near all my family.
state to attend The University of Texas at
Y
ag-based
institution
in
Indiana,
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Visit literacyinplace.com
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